pulled hard early, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, chased winner from 2 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last
in touch until ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold in rear, mistake 4th, well behind from next
challenged leader from 3rd, led approaching 2 out, drew clear approaching last, unchallenged
prominent until lost place and dropped well in rear after 5th, stayed on to take modest 3rd last
The Paul Nicholls-trained Desmond Tutu is likely to be at short odds for this and is impossible to oppose. A winner of his two starts in bumper company, at Fontwell and Chepstow, the son of Be My Native is sure to have been well schooled for his hurdles debut and, with the ground holding no fears, he should take all the beating - albeit at short odds. Mark Pitman's Master Trix also makes the switch to novice hurdling having won and finished sixth in two starts in National Hunt flat races but most of the stable's runners have tended to need their first start of the season. A better bet for the forecast could be Kosamet. More exposed than most of these, the five-year-old was probably flattered by his proximity to Taming at Huntingdon two starts ago but does have a fitness advantage over some of his rivals. A market move for Marcus William would be interesting.
